Garden Sessions Brings Music, Live Art and Sunday Afternoon Vibes to the Longview Arboretum
LONGVIEW, Texas | September 15, 2026 — Something a little different is taking root at the Longview Arboretum & Nature Center.
Garden Sessions, will make its debut Sunday, September 20, from 2 to 5 PM, bringing DJs, live contemporary art, a community drum circle, yard games and plenty of shade to the gardens.
Think of it as a Sunday afternoon with a soundtrack.
The inaugural Garden Sessions will feature DJs Locklear, Lee JD and Batmanda, along with live artists Gemeni and Oscar Solis. Grounded Grooves Drum Circle will find a shady spot in the gardens for an afternoon of hands on rhythm. Guests with hand percussion instruments are encouraged to bring them and join the circle. Instruments will also be available for those who would like to give it a try.
Melody Calhoun will also be on site with her popular Doodle Bar portrait booth, giving guests the opportunity to leave the garden with a little piece of art of their own.
The idea behind Garden Sessions is pretty simple: great music, great art, good people and a Sunday afternoon in the garden.
“If you want to dance, dance. If you want to sit under a tree and listen to the music, do that. Wander around, watch the artists, play some cornhole or just find a shady spot and hang out. The idea is to experience the Arboretum in a different way,” says event organizer Geff Grimes.
Live art will be an important part of the afternoon, with artists creating work in the gardens. Artists are encouraged to bring their supplies, get inspired by the setting and see what happens.
And then there is the really big stuff.
Melody Calhoun will be selling raffle tickets for her 7 ft x 10 ft painting, “Koi No Taki Nobori / Koi in Motion.” The large scale work will be on display during Garden Sessions.
Guests are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, hammocks and yard games. Outside food and beverages are also welcome. Wagons and strollers are welcome, while pets, bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades should be left at home.
Garden Sessions is designed to be accessible and family friendly. Admission is $5 for guests over 6 years old, while Arboretum members and children 6 and under are free.
The September event is the first of three planned Garden Sessions, with additional sessions scheduled for October 18 and November 15.
The events are intended to introduce the Arboretum to new audiences while encouraging visitors to slow down, explore the gardens and spend some time enjoying the space.
As Grimes puts it:
“If you wanna have cool stuff, you gotta get out and support cool stuff.”
GARDEN SESSIONS EPISODE 1
Sunday, September 20, 2026
2 to 5 PM
Longview Arboretum & Nature Center
706 West Cotton Street
Longview, Texas 75604
Admission: $5 for guests over 6
Arboretum Members: Free
Children 6 and under: Free
More information may be found on the event’s Facebook Page